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Story Hour
The Ballad of Hal Whitewyrm
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<blockquote data-quote="Paka" data-source="post: 5686630" data-attributes="member: 100"><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u>The room explodes into hugs and tears and prayers. Shasslan gives you both a hug that is strong and a kiss on each cheek.</p><p></p><p>“Welcome to the Hunt.”</p><p></p><p>While Vorass is cool and collected, Shaelin Blackhand seems to be on a plane of existence made of excitement and enthuisiasm; he hits you on the shoulder like a brother would and says, “We’re officers!”</p><p></p><p>Shasslan sternly brings him back to the Prime Material. “No, they are officers. You and Vorass are full members and will be paid as such from this moment on out but we won’t make an official announcement until we return for the winter, or else it will seem too odd. Two elves as officers so quickly – the rest of the company will assume they have puissance beyond mortal understanding. Two elves, a warrior and a thug from Ravens Bluff, however…”</p><p></p><p>Heldorm pats him on the back. “Yer on your way, lad, no more probation for you. You’ll be on the barrel quite a bit less”</p><p></p><p>Shaelin nods in understanding. “Do you know who killed my brother, then? Was it a Zhent?”</p><p></p><p>Shasslan says, “It was the same Zhent who killed Hal’s mother. You hunt the same wizard: Xerez of Zhentil Keep. Vorass, Blackhand – we are trusting your discretion. Do not let us down. Please leave; the officers have to talk."</p><p></p><p>Blackhand walks out in shock, gripping one of his knife handles as if it is all that is holding him on the surface of Faerun and without it he would float up into the phlogiston beyond the stars. Vorass puts her arm around him. “C’mon, let’s have a drink, Shaelin but not too many; the morning will come too soon on a night like this.”</p><p></p><p>Shasslan and Heldorm exchange a look as Vorass and Blackhand take their leave <em>(Perception check, ob 3)</em> and what passes between them is as loaded as a Lantani pistol.</p><p></p><p>“The Oath is as follows,” the Huntress says and together the officers say it from memory:</p><p></p><p>“The Hunt continues until Zhentil Keep falls – so I swear. The Hunt continues until no Zhentarim chains bind creatures’ limbs – so I swear. The Hunt continues until Bane’s Temples are destroyed – so I swear. The Hunt continues despite my scars – so I swear. The Hunt continues on Faerun or beyond – so I swear. The Hunt continues with my every breath – so I swear. The Hunt continues without me, should I fall – so do I swear.”</p><p></p><p>“Swearing seven times, one for each of the Sisters, for each of Tempus’ great battles in the Planes,” intones one of the priests.</p><p></p><p>“Are you prepared to make this oath?”</p><p></p><p><em>NOTE: Do we need/want to re-write any Beliefs? Maybe change the one about family to one about the Hunt? I’d rather stay away from beliefs about taking down Zhentil Keep and have those kinds of beliefs be about specific do-able goals. But beliefs about how far you are willing to go in order to take down Zhents could be cool…but its daring me to push harder…</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Take 1 Personna for playing against that belief about Family, Love and Honor…ala Moldbreaker. Is that belief done?</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u><em>Perception Roll: 4d6 = 6,6,3,6 – 3 successes</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Belief: My belief is “Family, Freedom and Love are the only things worth fighting for.” The way I reasoned it, joining the Hunt in their goal of fighting Zhentil Keep is keeping my word to my mother (Family, Love) to end all Zhentish slavery (Freedom). I feel it is a valid interpretation of that Belief, at least for now, though it’s certainly starting to get tested. Do let me know if the Persona artha stays.</em></p><p></p><p>I take Nasharel’s hand and swear the oath of The Hunt:</p><p></p><p>“The Hunt continues until Zhentil Keep falls – so I swear. The Hunt continues until no Zhentarim chains bind creatures’ limbs – so I swear. The Hunt continues until Bane’s Temples are destroyed – so I swear. The Hunt continues despite my scars – so I swear. The Hunt continues on Faerun or beyond – so I swear. The Hunt continues with my every breath – so I swear. The Hunt continues without me, should I fall – so do I swear.”</p><p></p><p>I swear it seven times as required. It is no longer their Hunt; it is now OUR Hunt.</p><p></p><p><em>Now, the Belief about Xerez can change to incorporate the Hunt. I am, however, having trouble phrasing it in a punchy way. Let me think about this.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u><em>NOTE: Sounds good, man. Nothing NEEDS to change. I just wanted to check in and make sure. That would be a really early time for a belief to be swapped out but my sense of pace is all fuct because of the play-by-post medium. I say leave it be, if we notice that a belief is not generating artha, we’ll suss it out. But if you want a change, by all means, go for it</em></p><p></p><p>Nasharel takes your other hand as you take hers, you say the words together. Looking into each other’s eyes, you become members of The Hunt.</p><p></p><p>When you look up, your mind makes sense of the glance between the Huntress and her trusted second in command, Heldorm…either Vorass or Shaelin is suspected of being a traitor and they plan on dealing with it with steel’s brutal solution. Either the warrior or the thief will not live to see the dawn if they have their way. One of them heard too much, too soon and the Huntress never intended to let them in to the conspiracy so soon. Blackhand seems to have an iron-clad reason to stay loyal, so that would leave Vorass the Maul with unproven loyalties and all of the powers of Zhentil Keep out there in the world, waiting to uncover this organization’s true purpose.</p><p></p><p>After the oath, the time for ritual and formality is over.</p><p></p><p>“Elves of the Hunt, we leave at first light; do not be late. Whatever business you must finish up in Highmoon, do so before dawn’s rosy ale vomits over the horizon. If you’d like, I will have one of the hirelings take the tapestry to your cottage – one less thing for you to worry about.</p><p></p><p>“If possible, I’d like to talk to you both before we leave but I realize that is asking too much. At worst, I’d like to ride next to you on our way out of town and discuss Hunt business. You will notice we never bring up the Zhents in public. You will learn to hide your disdain for them or you will get us all killed. When an officer mentions Hunt Business, you will know what they mean.</p><p></p><p>“We can make introductions later, for now, I hope Lady Luck smiles on your last night in Highmoon. The rest of you Huntsmen…walk with a purpose and keep a sharp eye on our people; tonight is no night for foolishness and they’ve already had too much time without an officer’s guidance.</p><p></p><p>“Heldorm…”</p><p></p><p>“…I’m stayin’ to talk. I know damned well. You don’t need to hold my rod while I make water, Captain.”</p><p></p><p>Nasharel turns to you, “I have a few people I want to give farewells to. Highmoon was good to me and I should not skulk away from those who gave me my first taste of home in some time. I will meet you back at the cottage in a few hours so that we might see the tapestry together?”</p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u><em>(I’ll keep the Belief as-is for now, yes. We’ll look into it again as we move along.)</em></p><p></p><p>I kiss Nasharel and ask her to give my farewells as well to all who are concerned. “I shall see you at the house. Be careful, my love. My heart goes with you. I cannot wait see this art together.”</p><p></p><p>After she leaves, I turn to Shasslan and Hel. "I promise you, I have lived many years being careful about what I show to the world. I can hide my hatred for the Zhentarim behind a mask of joyous merriment if needed.</p><p></p><p>“You will forgive me if I am too forward now, but I noticed the glances between you as the two new full members left. I am not prying into a leader’s business, but I can tell something stinks as an orcish cesspit.</p><p></p><p>“What else did you wish to speak of?”</p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u>Shasslan turns on her military demeanor like a Wizard turns on a Power Word: Kill. “Don’t you have enough to worry about tonight without taking all of the Hunt’s troubles on your shoulders? I’m very good at what I do; please, allow me to run this company.”</p><p></p><p>Hel discreetly closes the door, keeping the argument private. Once he does that, he stands behind his captain, his body language entirely ready to back her up but his eyes don’t look sure (that there is the Let it Ride for your Perception test).</p><p></p><p>Shasslan continues, confident with her quartermaster backing her up. "She hasn’t left the inn but the night is long and we don’t know if she might leave a coded message here. We cannot trust her. All of the mercenary companies she claims to have been a part of were fine and upstanding but the names, superior officers, contacts were all impossible to track down, all dead or Sigil-bound or on ships that go beyond the sky.</p><p></p><p>“And she’s had military training, her abilities with small squad tactics is second-to-none; I haven’t seen anything like it since watching a squad of Zhentarim Marines storm a wizard’s tower. If you are right, my soul is weighed down with a fell deed and she is another casualty of this war. If I am right, we will all die by some Bane-spawn’s hands if we’re lucky and its business as per usual in Zhentil Keep.”</p><p></p><p><em>NOTE: This seems like our first Duel of Wits. If so, jot down a few sentences for your Body of Argument and roll your DoW skill but you don’t have one, so roll your Will, halve it and add it to your full Will for your Body of Argument/your argument’s hit points. I propose (and feel free to disagree with me) that if she wins, she deals with Vorass as she sees fit and if you win, Vorass lives until her innocence or guilt can be proven. That work for you?</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u><em>Body of Argument: 4 (1/2 Will rolled = 1 success [you need 2 for 1 BoA point, pg. 391] + Will)</em></p><p></p><p>“Shasslan, my apologies if my query implied any doubt of your ability to lead this company. The Hunt’s name and fame spread far and wide and that could not be without a capable leader at the helm. No, far from it, I only ask because as far as I am concerned, upon making that sacred oath, you are like unto family to me, and I am bound to help family. But that also includes all the full members of this company, and by your word this very night, Vorass is one as well.”</p><p></p><p><em>I have my volleys scripted in a separate text file. As we move down the exchanges, I’ll reveal them.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u><em>I would caution against scripting until you see my Body of Argument and wouldn’t script rounds in advance. Let it flow.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>0 successes on her 3 dice of Persuasion. Body of Argument: 4.</em></p><p></p><p>Her words ring hollow. What she is describing sounds like base murder and nothing more</p><p></p><p><em>Her first round is scripted. When you post yours, I’ll post mine.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u><em>Ah, my mistake. When you wrote “jot down a few sentences for your Body of Argument” I thought you meant that my BoA needed to have a foundation statement. I read the DoW section but it didn’t really make clear whether I needed to have one prior to launching into the duel or not.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The DoW section (summary pg. 402) says we need to script our first exchange (three actions/volleys) before we get down to the action. Once that’s done, we reveal each action one by one, resolving each before moving to the other. If by the end of the third action/the end of the exchange, anyone still has points in their BoA, then we script a second exchange and so on.</em></p><p></p><p><em>Let’s do this. Consider my paragraph above my opening action for the first exchange. It’s a Point.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u><em>The past few paragraphs was your Body of Argument, your statement of purpose. Now, unveil your three scripted moves and I will unveil mine, we’ll see how they interact, one round at a time and then we’ll write our reactions based on that.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>That make sense?</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u><em>Got it.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>My three scripted actions are:</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Rebuttal</em></p><p><em>Point</em></p><p><em>Point</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u><em>Alright!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Rebuttal</em></p><p><em>Feint</em></p><p><em>Dismiss</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Uh-oh!</em></p><p></p><p>The two of you begin talking over each other in clipped tones.</p><p></p><p>“You have no idea what it takes to run an army and that is what we are.”</p><p></p><p><em>She splits her dice up, 3 for attack and 1 for defense. 1 success for the attack and 1 success for the defense. Give a rebuttal, show yer dice and we’ll move on to the next script. If you have any questions, don’t be shy.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u>“No army in Faerun is run on guesses and hunches. It helps, yes, but there has to be something more. And to take a life on a gut feeling? Bane be praised if that’s the case!”</p><p></p><p><em>I split my dice, 3 for attack and 1 for defense as well. 2 successes on the attack and 1 success on the defense.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u><em>Body of Argument – Hal: 4, Shasslan 3. She tries to Feint and your point rips right through it. What skill did you use for that past attack or was it a straight Will roll, if so did you cut the successes in half?</em></p><p></p><p>Shasslan starts to play subtle word games, treating you like a village or peasant kid being recruited for a mercenary company or sailing ship. That is when Hal Whitewyrm teachers her the error of her ways.</p><p></p><p><em>Or at least I hope he does. You get a free shot, here. You out-scripted her and she will have ZERO defense but it is untested, so take that into account. As long as you do some damage to her Body of Argument, there will be a compromise that we’ll suss out between Judd and Daniel, not Hal and Shasslan.</em></p><p> </p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u><em>I forgot to halve my successes, so that would be 1 success in attack and 0 success in defense. Adjust as necessary.</em></p><p></p><p>“Shasslan, I just met you but you do not strike me as someone who’d be so cutthroat on a whim. If you have proof, or some inkling of a clue to follow, let us all investigate it. If she is guilty, I will stand by your side as justice is meted out, but there cannot be murder in the name of paranoia. We would be no better than the Zhentarim if that were the case.”</p><p></p><p><em>Will Roll: 3,5,3,6 = 2 successes halved down to 1 success.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u><em>Body of Argument – Hal: 4, Shasslan 3. With the correction from the past mistake, the score stands.</em></p><p></p><p><em>You make a point as she attempts to end the argument. If she fails with her Dismiss, she will hesitate and the first round of the next volley will be a free shot for you.</em></p><p></p><p>“Hal, my brother in the hunt, this is no whim. This is information collected from here to the Sword Coast and back. This is not us becoming the Zhentarim but us safeguarding our hunt and going to the lengths necessary to truly do justice in Faerun.”</p><p></p><p><em>Persuasion skill of 3 +2 extra dice for the Dismiss action = 4 successes. But your Point goes off at the same time, taking down her Body of Argument too. You’ll get a compromise.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u>“Then speak or show some part of your proof. By your own words you only have suspicions and circumstance to fall back on. Investigate, yes, but do not kill. Confront her if you must know before dawn.”</p><p></p><p><em>Will roll: 5,4,4,6 = 2 successes halved down.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u><em>Alright, you wittled down her Body of Argument by half, that is a major compromise.</em></p><p><em>How’s this:</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>She is going to kill her in a week but you have that time to gather evidence one way or the other and it is your responsibility to make sure that she hasn’t left behind any coded messages. You may ask any of the officers for help.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>That work for ya? Keeping in mind that this agreement is made between us, not a conversation about the characters. We’re figuring out the compromise.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">Player:</p><p></u><em>Works for me, yes. It’s precisely the solution I had in mind.</em></p><p></p><p><u><p style="text-align: center">GM:</p><p></u><em>Fantastic, you won it, fair and square.</em></p><p></p><p>“Look into the abyss too long, blah blah blah,” Shasslan says dismissively.</p><p></p><p>“Consider Vorass’ head on the chopping block and you have stayed the execution for a time. You have a week and furthermore, it is your responsibility to make sure that she hasn’t left any information for Zhentarim spies at the inn and it is your job to gather evidence of her innocence. You may enlist the help of any of the Hunt’s officers. Good luck. I hope you find what you are looking for.”</p><p></p><p>Hel says, “We all have lots to do before morning. We done here?”</p><p></p><p>Shasslan smiles, “Welcome to the adventuring company, Hal. How did you enjoy your first battle?”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Paka, post: 5686630, member: 100"] [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] The room explodes into hugs and tears and prayers. Shasslan gives you both a hug that is strong and a kiss on each cheek. “Welcome to the Hunt.” While Vorass is cool and collected, Shaelin Blackhand seems to be on a plane of existence made of excitement and enthuisiasm; he hits you on the shoulder like a brother would and says, “We’re officers!” Shasslan sternly brings him back to the Prime Material. “No, they are officers. You and Vorass are full members and will be paid as such from this moment on out but we won’t make an official announcement until we return for the winter, or else it will seem too odd. Two elves as officers so quickly – the rest of the company will assume they have puissance beyond mortal understanding. Two elves, a warrior and a thug from Ravens Bluff, however…” Heldorm pats him on the back. “Yer on your way, lad, no more probation for you. You’ll be on the barrel quite a bit less” Shaelin nods in understanding. “Do you know who killed my brother, then? Was it a Zhent?” Shasslan says, “It was the same Zhent who killed Hal’s mother. You hunt the same wizard: Xerez of Zhentil Keep. Vorass, Blackhand – we are trusting your discretion. Do not let us down. Please leave; the officers have to talk." Blackhand walks out in shock, gripping one of his knife handles as if it is all that is holding him on the surface of Faerun and without it he would float up into the phlogiston beyond the stars. Vorass puts her arm around him. “C’mon, let’s have a drink, Shaelin but not too many; the morning will come too soon on a night like this.” Shasslan and Heldorm exchange a look as Vorass and Blackhand take their leave [I](Perception check, ob 3)[/I] and what passes between them is as loaded as a Lantani pistol. “The Oath is as follows,” the Huntress says and together the officers say it from memory: “The Hunt continues until Zhentil Keep falls – so I swear. The Hunt continues until no Zhentarim chains bind creatures’ limbs – so I swear. The Hunt continues until Bane’s Temples are destroyed – so I swear. The Hunt continues despite my scars – so I swear. The Hunt continues on Faerun or beyond – so I swear. The Hunt continues with my every breath – so I swear. The Hunt continues without me, should I fall – so do I swear.” “Swearing seven times, one for each of the Sisters, for each of Tempus’ great battles in the Planes,” intones one of the priests. “Are you prepared to make this oath?” [I]NOTE: Do we need/want to re-write any Beliefs? Maybe change the one about family to one about the Hunt? I’d rather stay away from beliefs about taking down Zhentil Keep and have those kinds of beliefs be about specific do-able goals. But beliefs about how far you are willing to go in order to take down Zhents could be cool…but its daring me to push harder… Take 1 Personna for playing against that belief about Family, Love and Honor…ala Moldbreaker. Is that belief done?[/I] [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] [I]Perception Roll: 4d6 = 6,6,3,6 – 3 successes Belief: My belief is “Family, Freedom and Love are the only things worth fighting for.” The way I reasoned it, joining the Hunt in their goal of fighting Zhentil Keep is keeping my word to my mother (Family, Love) to end all Zhentish slavery (Freedom). I feel it is a valid interpretation of that Belief, at least for now, though it’s certainly starting to get tested. Do let me know if the Persona artha stays.[/I] I take Nasharel’s hand and swear the oath of The Hunt: “The Hunt continues until Zhentil Keep falls – so I swear. The Hunt continues until no Zhentarim chains bind creatures’ limbs – so I swear. The Hunt continues until Bane’s Temples are destroyed – so I swear. The Hunt continues despite my scars – so I swear. The Hunt continues on Faerun or beyond – so I swear. The Hunt continues with my every breath – so I swear. The Hunt continues without me, should I fall – so do I swear.” I swear it seven times as required. It is no longer their Hunt; it is now OUR Hunt. [I]Now, the Belief about Xerez can change to incorporate the Hunt. I am, however, having trouble phrasing it in a punchy way. Let me think about this.[/I] [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] [I]NOTE: Sounds good, man. Nothing NEEDS to change. I just wanted to check in and make sure. That would be a really early time for a belief to be swapped out but my sense of pace is all fuct because of the play-by-post medium. I say leave it be, if we notice that a belief is not generating artha, we’ll suss it out. But if you want a change, by all means, go for it[/I] Nasharel takes your other hand as you take hers, you say the words together. Looking into each other’s eyes, you become members of The Hunt. When you look up, your mind makes sense of the glance between the Huntress and her trusted second in command, Heldorm…either Vorass or Shaelin is suspected of being a traitor and they plan on dealing with it with steel’s brutal solution. Either the warrior or the thief will not live to see the dawn if they have their way. One of them heard too much, too soon and the Huntress never intended to let them in to the conspiracy so soon. Blackhand seems to have an iron-clad reason to stay loyal, so that would leave Vorass the Maul with unproven loyalties and all of the powers of Zhentil Keep out there in the world, waiting to uncover this organization’s true purpose. After the oath, the time for ritual and formality is over. “Elves of the Hunt, we leave at first light; do not be late. Whatever business you must finish up in Highmoon, do so before dawn’s rosy ale vomits over the horizon. If you’d like, I will have one of the hirelings take the tapestry to your cottage – one less thing for you to worry about. “If possible, I’d like to talk to you both before we leave but I realize that is asking too much. At worst, I’d like to ride next to you on our way out of town and discuss Hunt business. You will notice we never bring up the Zhents in public. You will learn to hide your disdain for them or you will get us all killed. When an officer mentions Hunt Business, you will know what they mean. “We can make introductions later, for now, I hope Lady Luck smiles on your last night in Highmoon. The rest of you Huntsmen…walk with a purpose and keep a sharp eye on our people; tonight is no night for foolishness and they’ve already had too much time without an officer’s guidance. “Heldorm…” “…I’m stayin’ to talk. I know damned well. You don’t need to hold my rod while I make water, Captain.” Nasharel turns to you, “I have a few people I want to give farewells to. Highmoon was good to me and I should not skulk away from those who gave me my first taste of home in some time. I will meet you back at the cottage in a few hours so that we might see the tapestry together?” [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] [I](I’ll keep the Belief as-is for now, yes. We’ll look into it again as we move along.)[/I] I kiss Nasharel and ask her to give my farewells as well to all who are concerned. “I shall see you at the house. Be careful, my love. My heart goes with you. I cannot wait see this art together.” After she leaves, I turn to Shasslan and Hel. "I promise you, I have lived many years being careful about what I show to the world. I can hide my hatred for the Zhentarim behind a mask of joyous merriment if needed. “You will forgive me if I am too forward now, but I noticed the glances between you as the two new full members left. I am not prying into a leader’s business, but I can tell something stinks as an orcish cesspit. “What else did you wish to speak of?” [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] Shasslan turns on her military demeanor like a Wizard turns on a Power Word: Kill. “Don’t you have enough to worry about tonight without taking all of the Hunt’s troubles on your shoulders? I’m very good at what I do; please, allow me to run this company.” Hel discreetly closes the door, keeping the argument private. Once he does that, he stands behind his captain, his body language entirely ready to back her up but his eyes don’t look sure (that there is the Let it Ride for your Perception test). Shasslan continues, confident with her quartermaster backing her up. "She hasn’t left the inn but the night is long and we don’t know if she might leave a coded message here. We cannot trust her. All of the mercenary companies she claims to have been a part of were fine and upstanding but the names, superior officers, contacts were all impossible to track down, all dead or Sigil-bound or on ships that go beyond the sky. “And she’s had military training, her abilities with small squad tactics is second-to-none; I haven’t seen anything like it since watching a squad of Zhentarim Marines storm a wizard’s tower. If you are right, my soul is weighed down with a fell deed and she is another casualty of this war. If I am right, we will all die by some Bane-spawn’s hands if we’re lucky and its business as per usual in Zhentil Keep.” [I]NOTE: This seems like our first Duel of Wits. If so, jot down a few sentences for your Body of Argument and roll your DoW skill but you don’t have one, so roll your Will, halve it and add it to your full Will for your Body of Argument/your argument’s hit points. I propose (and feel free to disagree with me) that if she wins, she deals with Vorass as she sees fit and if you win, Vorass lives until her innocence or guilt can be proven. That work for you?[/I] [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] [I]Body of Argument: 4 (1/2 Will rolled = 1 success [you need 2 for 1 BoA point, pg. 391] + Will)[/I] “Shasslan, my apologies if my query implied any doubt of your ability to lead this company. The Hunt’s name and fame spread far and wide and that could not be without a capable leader at the helm. No, far from it, I only ask because as far as I am concerned, upon making that sacred oath, you are like unto family to me, and I am bound to help family. But that also includes all the full members of this company, and by your word this very night, Vorass is one as well.” [I]I have my volleys scripted in a separate text file. As we move down the exchanges, I’ll reveal them.[/I] [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] [I]I would caution against scripting until you see my Body of Argument and wouldn’t script rounds in advance. Let it flow. 0 successes on her 3 dice of Persuasion. Body of Argument: 4.[/I] Her words ring hollow. What she is describing sounds like base murder and nothing more [I]Her first round is scripted. When you post yours, I’ll post mine.[/I] [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] [I]Ah, my mistake. When you wrote “jot down a few sentences for your Body of Argument” I thought you meant that my BoA needed to have a foundation statement. I read the DoW section but it didn’t really make clear whether I needed to have one prior to launching into the duel or not. The DoW section (summary pg. 402) says we need to script our first exchange (three actions/volleys) before we get down to the action. Once that’s done, we reveal each action one by one, resolving each before moving to the other. If by the end of the third action/the end of the exchange, anyone still has points in their BoA, then we script a second exchange and so on.[/I] [I]Let’s do this. Consider my paragraph above my opening action for the first exchange. It’s a Point.[/I] [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] [I]The past few paragraphs was your Body of Argument, your statement of purpose. Now, unveil your three scripted moves and I will unveil mine, we’ll see how they interact, one round at a time and then we’ll write our reactions based on that. That make sense?[/I] [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] [I]Got it. My three scripted actions are: Rebuttal Point Point[/I] [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] [I]Alright! Rebuttal Feint Dismiss Uh-oh![/I] The two of you begin talking over each other in clipped tones. “You have no idea what it takes to run an army and that is what we are.” [I]She splits her dice up, 3 for attack and 1 for defense. 1 success for the attack and 1 success for the defense. Give a rebuttal, show yer dice and we’ll move on to the next script. If you have any questions, don’t be shy.[/I] [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] “No army in Faerun is run on guesses and hunches. It helps, yes, but there has to be something more. And to take a life on a gut feeling? Bane be praised if that’s the case!” [I]I split my dice, 3 for attack and 1 for defense as well. 2 successes on the attack and 1 success on the defense.[/I] [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] [I]Body of Argument – Hal: 4, Shasslan 3. She tries to Feint and your point rips right through it. What skill did you use for that past attack or was it a straight Will roll, if so did you cut the successes in half?[/I] Shasslan starts to play subtle word games, treating you like a village or peasant kid being recruited for a mercenary company or sailing ship. That is when Hal Whitewyrm teachers her the error of her ways. [I]Or at least I hope he does. You get a free shot, here. You out-scripted her and she will have ZERO defense but it is untested, so take that into account. As long as you do some damage to her Body of Argument, there will be a compromise that we’ll suss out between Judd and Daniel, not Hal and Shasslan.[/I] [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] [I]I forgot to halve my successes, so that would be 1 success in attack and 0 success in defense. Adjust as necessary.[/I] “Shasslan, I just met you but you do not strike me as someone who’d be so cutthroat on a whim. If you have proof, or some inkling of a clue to follow, let us all investigate it. If she is guilty, I will stand by your side as justice is meted out, but there cannot be murder in the name of paranoia. We would be no better than the Zhentarim if that were the case.” [I]Will Roll: 3,5,3,6 = 2 successes halved down to 1 success.[/I] [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] [I]Body of Argument – Hal: 4, Shasslan 3. With the correction from the past mistake, the score stands.[/I] [I]You make a point as she attempts to end the argument. If she fails with her Dismiss, she will hesitate and the first round of the next volley will be a free shot for you.[/I] “Hal, my brother in the hunt, this is no whim. This is information collected from here to the Sword Coast and back. This is not us becoming the Zhentarim but us safeguarding our hunt and going to the lengths necessary to truly do justice in Faerun.” [I]Persuasion skill of 3 +2 extra dice for the Dismiss action = 4 successes. But your Point goes off at the same time, taking down her Body of Argument too. You’ll get a compromise.[/I] [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] “Then speak or show some part of your proof. By your own words you only have suspicions and circumstance to fall back on. Investigate, yes, but do not kill. Confront her if you must know before dawn.” [I]Will roll: 5,4,4,6 = 2 successes halved down.[/I] [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] [I]Alright, you wittled down her Body of Argument by half, that is a major compromise. How’s this: She is going to kill her in a week but you have that time to gather evidence one way or the other and it is your responsibility to make sure that she hasn’t left behind any coded messages. You may ask any of the officers for help. That work for ya? Keeping in mind that this agreement is made between us, not a conversation about the characters. We’re figuring out the compromise.[/I] [U][CENTER]Player:[/CENTER][/U] [I]Works for me, yes. It’s precisely the solution I had in mind.[/I] [U][CENTER]GM:[/CENTER][/U] [I]Fantastic, you won it, fair and square.[/I] “Look into the abyss too long, blah blah blah,” Shasslan says dismissively. “Consider Vorass’ head on the chopping block and you have stayed the execution for a time. You have a week and furthermore, it is your responsibility to make sure that she hasn’t left any information for Zhentarim spies at the inn and it is your job to gather evidence of her innocence. You may enlist the help of any of the Hunt’s officers. Good luck. I hope you find what you are looking for.” Hel says, “We all have lots to do before morning. We done here?” Shasslan smiles, “Welcome to the adventuring company, Hal. How did you enjoy your first battle?” [/QUOTE]
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The Ballad of Hal Whitewyrm
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